The other day I told Mike that it has been way too long since I last got on a plane and that it is high time I get the heck out of my element and explore something totally new. He quickly reminded me that barely six months ago I was in Africa and Europe and just last month I was down south in New Orleans. Not to mention the fact that we’ll be traveling to Brooklyn in two weekends – to experience yet another architectural tour with college friends – and that we’re planning a trip to Nova Scotia with my parents.

Maybe I just need a vacation.

Either way, sometimes I can’t help but feel a little restless. And this restlessness has got me thinking more about travel, and more importantly, why I like to do it.

I think the reason why I like to travel is linked to what randomly urges me to go – the need for perspective. When I go to a place I have never been, that “out of my element” feeling gives me excitement before discomfort. It sparks curiosity before fear. It gives me energy.

When you travel enough, that sense of “out of placeness” tacks itself to memories, and those memories – no matter how vastly different they are – blend together to form one cohesive feeling of familiarity, a comfort. Vulnerability fades and suddenly, whenever you’re out of you’re element, you’re actually in it.

I totally get that. Traveling reminds you that there is a whole world out there, operating independently of you; that the world is bigger and broader than you could know in your own small circles. I love the way it enlarges my perspective, too.

Also: I like to travel to get away, to relax, to find adventure, to share new experiences with someone, to experience things by myself, to taste new foods, to see new sights, to learn, to discover, to shake up my regular routine…. : )Shannalee´s last blog post ..Homemade Chicken Tacos

i love seeing the history and what has happened places. i also love seeing the culture, people and how similar our lives really are all over the world! and the adventures you have!erin – heart in ireland´s last blog post ..sweet 16- friends and cherry blossoms

travel pieces the world together a bit more. you get where people are coming from by seeing different experiences.

i like the new buildings, new food, new people.

i like traveling with people i know well in everyday life and seeing out relationship in a different environment. because people are themselves after a few days of traveling and getting out of their routine.

and i guess i like the actual travel time–getting to and from a place–sitting on a plane, driving. i think leaving and going back to your home makes you think a little harder–makes you understand what you are happy to leave behind and what you want to come back to.

I definitely have the itch to go travel right now. I have had one for about a month. Its the ‘getting away from it all’ that pulls me in, wanting to jump on a plane and experience something new. It all comes down to wanting to see, learn, and have new memories with whomever you chose to travel with/for.

Traveling to me always involves shutting the cell phone off and ‘unplugging’, which is beyond valuable in today’s society.

I talk a lot of talk unfortunately, as life gets in the way of these travel adventures. PS, would love to catch up with you and Mike on your BK tour!

I love to travel because it is something new. Everything is new; the food, the weather, and the people. I always love experiencing new things and traveling to foreign lands to experience new languages and cultures and learn about them as well. I want to travel to France soon and have that sort of experience since i have already been to popular travel destinations such as London and Mexico already.

Traveling to me fulfills an urge for something different, a change. Although I can be a creature of habit, whenever I feel that I am in a rut, or something has become to stagnant, all I want to do is travel in order to see new things, to do new things, meet new people, etc. Ultimately, I think my favorite part of traveling is meeting new people with entirely new perspectives and attitudes. It makes you reflect on yourself and the way you view the world. Travel simply excites me – just seeing a plane in the sky makes me want to get up and go!

i love to travel simply to explore new places. it is just so fun to go somewhere new and try new places to eat and everything in between. then again i also like going to places i’ve already been and visiting and just yes. i think i just love a good adventure.

Wow, I have to say the overall experience of traveling besides of course being on “vacation” and not working. But, really I like experiencing new things. I’ve really expanded my traveling expectations since our trip to Europe last November and we are in the process of planning a Venice trip for “this” November. I have to agree with you its the perspective but, its also the relaxation and the enjoyment that I experience in my travels.